It’s inherently difficult to grow old gracefully within the confines of rock music, which at its core remains a young person’s game. As one tacks on the years, the challenge becomes whether to mature to the point that the next generation rebels against you or try to recapture the sentiments and ideologies of young adults.

There’s no right or wrong choice, but it's easy to spot who does it better and who has gotten worse. The result is often an inverse correlation: those who age the finest continue to have the most relevance with younger audiences, while those who cling to the past find themselves playing only to people who are doing the same.

The U.K. post-punk luminaries of Wire easily could have people arguing both sides with regard to their place in 2013, as Sunday night’s sold-out Echoplex performance proved. But the takeaway from the evening was less satisfaction than disappointment.

Musically, Wire sounds fit as can be. The core trio – Colin Newman (above), Graham Lewis and Robert Grey – have an undeniable chemistry that has not waned in the 36 years since their landmark debut, Pink Flag. Opening with focus and strong stage presence (save for second guitarist Matthew Simms, a much younger touring member who mostly stayed in the shadows), the band were still the same stoic rockers you’d expect.

Beginning with “Marooned,” from 1978 sophomore effort Chairs Missing, before moving into “Drill” (from their second run as a band after a hiatus in the early ‘80s) and “Doubles & Trebles” (from this year’s Change Becomes Us), the group certainly had the unwavering affection and attention of the stuffed room.

The crowd mostly comprised fans roughly the band’s age, maybe a decade younger. But, surprisingly, many fans dressed the part of post-punk British contrarians; some even acted out that role, with surliness and pretension more prevalent than the joy and community usually hoped for at a rare show like this one, as Wire hadn’t been to the area since their 2011 Coachella appearance and played California gigs only sporadically before then.

Of course, the attitude of some audience members isn’t the band’s problem, though it is noteworthy that so few younger attendees were present. For a group considered so influential, Wire doesn’t get the same fanfare as fellow post-punk cornerstones like Joy Division, Gang of Four, the Fall or the Psychedelic Furs. What young admirers (mostly male) who did attend were often recognizable from local East Side bands; many lingered on the patio or in the back of the room, enjoying the sounds without feeling compelled to watch.

If they had, they’d have noticed the peculiarity of lead vocalist Colin Newman reading his lyrics from an iPad while playing, his gadget set up like sheet music for a composer. He didn’t need just an occasional cue, either, but rather looked down between each verse on nearly every song. Even a piece he didn’t sing, “Please Take,” still came with iPad instructions for guitar parts.

Barring some sort of medical condition that requires such aides (Glen Campbell required lyrics for his final tours, but he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s), this reliance on anything other than memory was borderline inexcusable for a professional band – especially when you introduce a new song “about blogs” with lyrics about “tweeting about Jesus” and “YouTubing punk.” Sharp musical jabs at technology are completely meaningless if you have to read them from Apple gear.

Maybe because of this, Wire’s faithfulness to its roots felt stale. Their sound is still viable and even progressive, with darkwave bands like Cold Cave and Weekend pushing it further into new territory. But Wire seems a step behind these days, serving more as nostalgia than a current force. The faithful who wait years to see this group were no doubt pleased, but it’s hard to imagine them satisfying anyone else.

Colin Newman of Wire performing to an older crowd at the Echoplex in L.A. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Robert Grey of Wire keeps time at the Echoplex in L.A. Sunday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
The content of Colin Newman's iPad for a song that Graham Lewis sang. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Graham Lewis offering a rare vocal lead for Wire at the Echoplex on Sunday. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Wire's Graham Lewis performing at a sold-out Echoplex in Los Angeles on Sunday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Wire frontman Colin Newman delivering his lyrics at the Echoplex in L.A. on Sunday. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
From left: Graham Lewis, Robert Grey and Colin Newman make up Wire, seen here at the Echoplex Sunday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Graham Lewis handling bass for influential post-punk band Wire in L.A. Sunday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Colin Newman of Wire gets help from an iPad at the Echoplex in L.A Sunday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER

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